Circular knitting machine



1937. G. J. H. JACQUES ET AL 2,091,633

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24,1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 W ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 31, 1937.

"fin; 4 I EN G. J. H. JACQUES ET AL CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1928 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 31, 1937. G. J. H. JACQUES ET AL CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheet s-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 24, 1928 A TTORNE Y5.

Aug. 31, 1937.

G. J. H. JACQUES ET AL v CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1928 B Y%2VIQIZZE:ZIZORS:

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNEYS.

31, 1937- I G. J. H. JACQUES ET AL 2,091,538

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 W7 ATTORNEYS.

Alig- 1937. G. J. H. JACQUES ET AL 2,091,638

C IRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Aug. 31 1937 UNITED STATES CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE George J. H. Jacques and Aime H. Jacques, Pawtucket, R. I., assignors to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. 1., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 24, 1928, Serial No. 249,114

18 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved circular knitting machine for knitting tubular fabric, and more particularly to a machine of that character adapted for knitting stockings and the like. .In

5 the knitting of stockings of a conventional type it v is customary to first knit a welt section to be followed by a ribbed section, which is in turn fol- I lowed by a'plain knit section forming the major portion of the stocking. The manner of forming 10 the loops in knitting-the welt, ribbed and plain portions is different in each instance and requires different cooperative relationship between the vertical and horizontal needles of the machine. Heretofore, these different cooperative relation- 15 ships of the vertical and horizontal needles have only been obtainable by transferring the material in process from one type of machine to another or by manually controlling the operation of certain of the needles in effecting the change from one form of knitting to the other.

One object of the present invention is to provide means whereby a complete article comprising welt, ribbed and plain portions may be formed without removal of the fabric from the machine, the transition from one form of knitting to the, other being effected automatically and, if desired, in accordance with a prearranged order or pattern which may be varied under the control of a pattern-chain or other suitable in- 30 strumentalities.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved automatic means for modifying the .op-

eration of the needles to change from welt knitting to ribbed knitting, or vice versa, and from 35 either to plain knitting without stopping the machine; and to effect such change at any desired point in the formation of the article.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for automatically controlling the 0 needles to change from one form of knitting to another at any desired point in the formation of 2 the fabric during a single revolution of the cam or needle cylinder as the case may be.

A further feature of the invention is the 45 provision of a novel form and arrangement of transfer mechanism for effecting the transfer of the loops or stitches from one bank of needles to another, specifically disclosed herein by way of example as from the dial to the cylinder needles, 50 whereby the character of stitch maybe changed;

the transfer from dial to cylinder needles disclosed resulting in a change from rib to plain knittingg .Another feature of the invention is the provi- 55 sionjof a novel form of control-mechanism for controlling the operation of the needles and transfer mechanism in changing from one type of knitting to another, including variable cams and means for controlling the operation of the modifying parts of said cams automatically and in accordance with a predetermined order.

Other features of the invention relate to the novel construction and arrangement of the control-mechanism and the relation of these parts to the conventional knitting machine elements, as well as the improved method of operation thereof which will be more fully pointed out in the detailed description to follow.

The invention is herein described and illustrated as embodied in a certain form of construction by way of example only, and in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the needle cylinder of the knittingmachine and its associated parts including the frame carrying the cam-control mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cam-control mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one partof the cam-control mechanism illustrating it in cooperative relation with respect to its actuating means;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the dial and the associated cams which control the movement of the horizontal dial-needles andvtransfermembers, showing the parts in section in the vertical plane of their axis of rotation and illustrating the position of a dial-needle and its transfer-member immediately after the transfer of a loop from the former to the latter;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the dial shown in section in the vertical plane of its axis;

- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a dial-needle and'i ts transfer-member or pick immediately before the loop is to be cast off from the dialneedle;

Fig. -7 is a perspective V and its transfer-member or pick showing the position of these parts while the loop is being transferred from the dial-needle by the transfermember; 1

Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the transfer-member orpick; v

Fig. 9 is a detached perspective view illustrating the operating parts of one of the cam-control devices; I

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the camswitch shown inverted from its normal position as illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detached perspective view illusview of a dial-needle tion; Fig. 13 is a detached perspective view illustrating the operative parts of another of the camtrating the operating parts cam-control devices;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the cam-switch shown in Fig. 11, illustrating it in inverted posiof another of the control devices;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the cam-switch shown in Fig. 13, illustrating it in inverted position;

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the cam for controlling the operation of the dial-needles, the parts being shown in position for knitting the 15 welt portion of a tubular fabric;

Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of the same cam for controlling the operation of the dial-needles, the parts being shown in the position which they assume after completing the ribbed portion of the fabric to start to transfer the loops to the vertical needles;

Fig. 17 is a bottom plan view of the same cam for controlling the operation of the dial-needles with the parts shown in the position they assume after completing the transfer of the loops from the dial-needles to the vertical needles;

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of a second cam for controlling the operation of the transfer-members or picks, with the parts shown in the position which they occupy during the knitting of the welt and ribbed portions of the fabric;

Fig. 19 is a top plan View of this cam for controlling the operation of the transfer-members or picks with the parts shown in the position they occupy when the transfer-members are being brought into operation to transfer the loops from the dial-needles to the vertical needles; and

Fig. 20 is a detached perspective view of the operating parts for actuating the cam-switch for controlling the movement of the transfer-members.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference .characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, designates the table or bed-plate of a knitting machine on which is supported a stationary needle-cylinder 2 having slots 3 in its periphery for the reception of vertical needles 4, each of which is provided with a latch 5 and a butt 6 as is usual in machines of 5 the present type. A cam-ring I, having an undulating face 8 adapted to engage the butts 6 of the vertical needles 4, is rotatively'mounted upon the table I surrounding the needle-cylinder 2, whereby upon rotation of the cam-ring. the

55 needles 4 are reciprocated to form circular courses of stitches in' the tubular fabric in the manner as well known to those versed in the art. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be applied to use with a'machine having a rotary needle-cylinder and a stationary cam-ring.

Bosses 9 carried by the cam-ring I are provided with vertical bores for the reception of the reduced ends I0 of posts II which support a 35 frame I2 carrying the several cam-controlmechanisms for the needles and the horizontal needle dial and parts associated therewith. Setscrews I3 in the bosses 9 engage the posts I I to secure the frame I2 and its associated parts in '7 proper adjustment relative to the needle-cylinder 2.

A central tubular bearingor sleeve I4 is fixed securely within a hub or boss I5 on the frame I2 by being driven into its bore. Secured to the 7 lower end of the sleeve I4 by means of a setscrew I1 is a cam-plate I6 for controlling the transfer-members or picks, to be later described, and above this is the upper cam-plate I8 for the horizontal dial needles, also secured to the sleeve by similar means (not shown) passed through its hub 24. Referring to Fig. 4, the horizontal needle dial-plate I9 is positioned between the upper and lower cam-plates I8 and I6, being supported by its hub 22 which is free to turn on the sleeve I4. As shown in Fig. 1, a detent-arm 20 carried by the dial-plate I9 projects downwardly and engages a similar detent-arm 2| secured to the needle-cylinder 2 to restrain the dial-plate against rotation relative to the needlecylinder. A brush 23 may be adjustably secured to one of the posts II in position to engage the horizontal-needles to open their latches as they are projected outward previous to the transfer of the loops therefrom.

Three mechanisms for actuating the controldevices of the needle-cam I8 are supported by the frame I2 and its associated parts, the impulse-receiving portions of two of said mechanisms being carried on the frame I2, and the third being supported from the upper cam-plate I8 itself as illustrated in the present embodiment of the invention, see Fig. 2. The impulse-receivingportion of these several mechanisms, which comprise rotatably mounted cams having radial contact arms, are spaced from each other vertically for a purpose which will be hereinafter ex plained.

One of these earns 25, which is provided with radial arms 26 in the manner of a star-wheel, is rotatably mounted upon a stud 21 screwed into the frame I2 and is frictionally held against accidental rotation on the stud by a compression spring 28 shown in Fig. 9. An elbow-shaped lever 29 is pivoted to the frame I2 as at 30 and provided at one end with a contact-toe 3| adapted to ride upon the periphery of the cam 25. The opposite end of the lever 29 is forked to adapt; it to engage a pin 4|, see Fig. 2. The pin 4| is carried by an arm 32 adjustably secured to a shaft 33 which is rotatably mounted in a boss 34 on'the frame I2, see Fig. 1. An arm 35 shown in Figs. 2 and 9 is adjustably secured to the shaft 33 overlying the upper face of the camplate I8 and is provided with a pin or stud 36 projecting through an arcuate slot 31 in the camplate for engagement with the needle-control de- ,trol device, shown in detail in Fig. 11, is provided with radial arms 43 and rotatably mounted upon a. stud 44, being frictionally held against accidental rotation by a compression spring 45. An elbow-shaped lever 46, pivoted to the frame I2 as at 41, has one end 48 adapted to contact with the cam 42. The opposite end of the lever 46 is forked to engage a pin 49 carried by an arm 50 which, in turn, is adjustably secured toa vertical shaft 5|. The shaft 5| is rotatably mounted in a bearing 52 on the frame I2, see Fig. 1, and has secured to its lower end an arm 53 which is located adjacent the upper face of the cam-plate I8. A stud or pinl4 carried by the arm 53 extends through an arcuate slot (not shown) in the cam-plate I9 to adapt it to'swing the needle-control device or switch 55 about its pivot 55, and in a plane parallel to a plane de- 5 fined by the movements of the dial needles, when the lever 45 is actuated bythe cam 42. A tension spring 51 connecting the arm 53 to a convenient part of the frame provides for returning the arm and switch 55 to their initial positions after actuation by the cam 42.

The above described mechanism for moving the needle-control deviceor switch 55 is Opera'- tively connected with the actuating means for the control-device or switch which operate the 15 transfer-members or picks, it being noted that these control-devices are operated in unison. for

transferring loops from the dial-needles to the vertical needles. connecting the mechanism for moving the switch 55 with t e transfer-member control-device comprises n arm 59 adjustably secured to the shaft and pivotally connected as at 55 to'a link 5I which is in'turn pivoted to an arm 52 at a point 69 intermediate its ends. Thearm 52 is 5 pivotally supported at one end from the frame I2 by means of a stud 54, see Fig. 1, and is pro- .vided at the opposite end with a swivel 55 slidably connected to a rod or arm 55. The arm 55 has one end fixedly attached to the vertical 30 shaft 51, which shaft is mounted to oscillate about its axis within the axial sleeve l4 supported at the center of the frame I2.

A collar 59 is secured to the sleeve I4 below the hub of the lower cam-plate I5 by means of a set- 35 screw. 59 and an arm 15 is adjustably fastened to the lower end of'the shaft 51 for movement .ipon rotation of the shaft 51, see Fig. 1." A post 1I carried by the arm 15, see Fig. 20, is pivotally connected to one end of a link" as at 13, and the link 12 is pivotally connected as at 14 with one end of an arm 15, the opposite end of said arm being pivoted at 15 to the lower face of the cam-plate I5 by 1 suitable means not herein shown. The arm 151s provided intermediate its ends with a pin 11 projecting upwardly through an arcuate slot (not shown.) in the cam-plate I5 and engaging a hole 19 in the end of the.

shown in Figs. 2 and 11, the lever 46 will be actuated to oscillate the shaft 5i to turn the switch 55 about its pivot 55, and at the same time motion -will be transmitted .to the shaft- 51 through the medium of the arm 59 and its associated elements to effect a correspondingmovement of the switch. 18 about its pivot 85, see Figs. 16, 1'7, 18 and 19. In this way the movement of the switches 55 and are synchro- -nized to control the radial movements respectively of the dial-needles and transfer-members in union for effecting the transfer of loops from the dial needles to certain of the vertical needles of the machine.

7 cam.83 positioned above the frame-member 52 is The means for operatively various control-devices or 'switch. members.

derstood that-upon rotation of the cam 42,

rotatably supported on a vertical stud 54 and provided with radial arms 95, a compression spring 95 serving to prevent unwarranted rotation of the cam on the stud. An elbow-shaped lever 51 pivotally secured to the frame-member 82 as at 99 is provided at one end with a contacttoe 59 for engagement with the periphery of the an arcuate slot (not shown) in the cam-plate I5.

The stud 94 engages in a hole 91 in the switch 95 and thus serves to swing the switch about its pivot 95, and in a plane parallel to a plane defined by. the movements of the dial needles when the shaft 92 is rocked as the lever 81 is oscillated from the cam 83. A tension spring 93 connects the arm 53 with a convenient portion of the frame or cam-plate I8 to return the parts, including the switch 95, to their initial position when the lever 51 is released by the cam 53. It is to be observed that rotation of the cam 53 in a clockwise direction about the stud 94 causes movement of the lever arm 91 and consequent turning of the shaft 92 in a counter-clockwise direction to move the switch 95 .about its pivot 96.

Any suitable means may beemployed for actuating the cams 25, 42 and 53 for moving the As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings,'a standard 'I55 carried by a suitable fixed-portion of the machine, such as the bod-plate I, providesa mounting for three pivoted rocker-arms I5I, I52 and I53. -The rearwardly extending end portions of the rocker-arms'IM, I52 and I53 are adapted to be engaged by lugs 154,155 and I55, respectively, carried by a sprocket-chain I51 leading over 'a sprocket-wheel I59. .The forwardly-extending end portions I59, H5 and III of the rocker-arms I-5I, I52 and I53 are arranged in vertically ofiset position or staggered relative lines, while the arm I5I is-represented only in and 45.to shift the switches 95, 38, 55 and 15.

from one to. another of two operative positions; this action being timed to hold the switchesin the positions'into which they are moved for an Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, an arm or member 'i interval and to return them to their initial positions as regulated by the arrangement of the lugs I54, I55" and I55 on the chain I51. Each switch will be held in the position to which it is moved by its actuating cam so long as the contacttoe of its respective actuating lever is riding on the eccentric portion of the cam-face; the switch being returned to its initial poxsgtlon when the cam has been rotated a sufiicie t extent to release the elbow. lever from the eccentric face of the cam.

The dial-plate I9, shown in detail in Fig. 5, is provided with a plurality of radial slots III for the reception of the horizontal dial needles I I5, the latter being provided with latches IIS and butts Ill. The radial movement of the needles in their slots I I4 is effected by the travel of their'butts' H1 in. certain grooves formed on the lower face of the upper cam-plate I8. A

transfer-member or pick H8 is mounted for radial movement in each slot II4, being -positioned beneath the corresponding associated dial needle I I5 as-shown in Fig. 4. Each transfer-member or pick H8 is provided with a butt H9 which projects downwardly through a slot I20 formed in the bottom of the dial-plate I 9, and radial movement of the transfer-members is effected by guiding grooves I2I and I22 formed in the upper face of the lower cam-plate I6 and regulated by the control-device or switch I8,

see Figs. 13 and 19. Each of the transfer-mem- 1 35 movement of the dial-needles II5 turns in the.

direction indicated by the arrows b in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, and is provided with a plurality of guiding grooves adapted to be interchangeably engaged with the butts II! of the needles. The 40 butts of the needles are directed from one groove to another by the control-devices or switches 38,

55 and 95 to control the radial movement of the dial needles and insure their proper action to bring them into cooperative relationship with 45 the vertical cylinder needles 4 in forming the welt, ribbed and plain stitches in the knitting of astocking. The form and arrangement-of the grooves in the upper cam-plate I8 and their method of operation on the dial needles will be 50 more fully set forth in the explanation of the operation of the complete machine.

-As before stated, in th types of stockings it is customary and desirable to form diiferent portions thereof by means of 5 different types of stitches requiring different cooperative relationship between the vertical needles and the horizontal dial needles, and a particular object of the present invention is to provide means for controlling the dial needles to 60 bring them into position for cooperation with the vertical needles for knitting certain portions of the stocking, as well as to change from one type of stitches to another.

The number of vertical cylinder needles ,4 em- 65 ployed is greater than the-number of horizontal needles H5, and for thepurpose of illustration it may be assumed that in the present embodiment of the invention there are twice as many vertical needles as there are dial needles, although there 70 may be three or four times as many cylinder needles as dial needles if desired. When, as in the present example, there are twice as many cylinder needles as dial needles, every alternate cylinder needle will beheld out of operation during 7 the formation of the welt and ribbed portions of e knitting -of certain the stocking. For this purpose every alternate vertical needle will be controlled by suitable mechanism connected with the cam-ring I or otherwise to prevent them from being raised into stitch-forming position during the knitting of the welt and ribbed portions of the stocking. Alternate or other desired selection of cylinder needles is frequently brought about by means of jacks located in tricks or grooves that are continuations of the needle grooves. Any desired means for the selection of the alternate needles may be resorted to and be within the scope of the present invention.

The usual method of knitting stockings of the character for which the present mechanism is particularly adapted is to first form a welt portion of several courses followed by a ribbed portion of any desired length, after which the formation of the stocking is continued by means of plain stitches. It is noted here, however, that the present machine is adapted to form welt and ribbed stitches alternately and to any desired extent, and to transfer automatically from either to plain stitches at any desired point in the formation of the stocking. In the operation of the machine to form the welt portion and ribbed portion, the knitting machine functions with every alternate vertical needle out of, operation and their loops carried by the dial needles. During the knitting of the welt the dial needles are held in semi-retracted position by their butts following the path on the cam-plate I8 indicated by the arrows I28 in Fig. 15 of the drawings; the switches 38, 55 and 95 initially occupying the position shown in this figure to guide the needles in the path indicated. Every alterwelt stitches will be formed on the yertical needles.

When a point is reached where the mechanism is to transfer from welt stitches to ribbed stitches,

as selectively determined by the arrangement of the pattern chain I01, see Fig. 3, the lug IN on the chain engages the outer end of the rockerarm IIII and depresses-the forward end I09 of saidswitch 95 from the position shown in Fig. 15 to the position illustrated in Fig. 16 of the drawings, while the switches 38 and 55 continue to occupy their initial positions as shown in Fig. 15. With the parts in this relation continued operation of the machine causes the dial needles I I 5 to deviate II'I pass through the groove I21 inthe switch 95 and follow the path indicated by the arrows I29 in Fig. ,16. While following this path the dial needles are moved radially outward andv into cooperative relation with those cylinder needles which are in operation to form therewith the rib stitches in the usual manner as will be understood by those skilled in the art. If it is desired to change the mechanism for the formation of further courses of welt'stitches after an interval of ribbed knitting it is necessary only to bring a second lug I04 into contact with the rocker-arm IIII and thus give a quarter turn to the cam 83 to cause the switch 95 to bereturned to the initial position shown in Fig. 15 whereby to hold tIon for the stocking with the switches 38 and 55 in the position shown in Fig. 15, to change to plain knitting a lug I06, on the chain I01 is brought into contact with the outer end of the rocker-arm I03 whereby the forward end portion III of the rocker-arm I03 is depressed into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. In this latter position the end portion III of the arm I03 will engage one of the arms 43 of the star-wheel to rotate the cam 42 and to cause it to swing the lever 46 and rotate the shaft 5|, whereby the switch 55 is moved outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 15 to the position shown in Fig. 16. With the switch 55 shifted into this position the butts of the dial needles H5 will pass through the groove I 30 therein and into the groove I3I in the face of the cam-plate I8. Rotation of the shaft 5I results in simultaneous rotation of the shaft 61 through the intermediacy of the linknotion comprising the elements 59, 6|, 62 and 66, shown in Fig. 11, whereby the control-device or switch I8 on the lower cam-plate I6 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 18 to the position shown in Fig. 19. As before stated, the cam-plate I6 controls the operation of the transfer-members or picks H8 and the butts H9 of said members H8 will pass through the groove I33 in the switch I8 and be directed away from the groove I2I into the groove I22. It is noted here that the showing of the lugs I04, I05 and I06 on the pattern chain H07, see Fig. 3, is not intended to indicate their exact relationship for timing the action of the rocker-arms -IOI, I02 and I03, the lugs being merely shown in this relation. for convenience of illustration. The movement of the switch 55 on the cam- 45 plate I8 from the position shown in Fig. 15 to that illustrated in Fig. 16 is substantially simul-' taneous with the movement of the switch 18 from the position shown in Fig. 18 to that illustrated in 'Fig. 19. The movement of the switch 55 re- 50 suits in directing the butts I I! of the dial needles H5 from the groove section I32 into the groove section I3I, thus forcing the dial needles outwardly into their extreme position to permit the transfer of the yarn loops therefrom. The move- 55 ment of the switch or control-member I8 from the position shown in Fig. 18 to that shown in Fig. 19 causes the butts H of the transfer-members H0 to move outwardly and follow the groove 822 instead of the groove I2I in which they have tbeen previous traveling. This outward movement of each -ial needle-and its associated transfer-member takes place just previous to the upward movement of the corresponding initially inactive vertical needles 4. As the transfer-mem- 55 her H8 continues its outward movement beyond the dial needle H its prongs or spurs I26 engage the loop I34 carried by the dial needle, see Fig.

6, and forces this loop outwardly over the latch of the needle which has been brought into closed 70 relation by the loop as shown in Fig. 7. It should be explained that this previously inactive vertical needle 4 in moving upwardly enters, the opening I25in the transfer-member H3 to receive the loop I34, see Fig. 4, and as the transfer-member 76 is then moved rearwardly its flexible arms I24 spring open slightly and slide back over the vertical needle as shown in Fig. 4. In this manner the loops carried by the dial needles are transferred to the appropriate previously inactive vertical needles which are moved upwardly successively around the circumference of the needle cylinder 2. 'It should be further explained that the outward movement of the dial needle H5 causes the loop I34 to slide back thereon to open its latch H6 and clear the same as shown in Fig. 6, and as the loop is slid oif from thedial-needle as illustrated in Fig. 7 it closes the latch again. This operation continues during one complete revolution of the cylinder to transfer all the loops carried by the dial needles to the previously inactive alternate vertical needles. As

will be noted the dial needles as well as the transfer members H8 are, normally or when in knitting relation, positioned directly opposite their companion cylinder needles to which the stitches are transferred. Such a positioning of the dial, transfer members and cylinder needles permits a straight transfer from dial to cylinder needles or vice versa as the case may be; the straight transfer resulting in a perfect joining of the rib and plain fabric sections without a distortion or racking sidew'lse of the transferred wales. In other ,words, the straight transfer maintains the rib wale knit on a dial needle before transfer, in alignment with the same wale knit on the companion cylinder needle after transfer of the stitch I thereto.

Immediately after the outward movement of the control-members or switches 55 and I8 as above explained, the lug I05 carried by the chain I01 engages the outwardly extending end of the rocker-arm I02 thus causing the inner end H0 thereof to be depressed into the position. shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 to engage one of the star-wheel arms 26 on the cam to rotate the latter. The cam 25 is thus caused to swing the .iever 29 to move the control-member or switch 38 from the position shown in Fig. 15 into the position illustrated in Fig. 16 to thereby direct the butts of those dial needles from which the loops have been transferred as-above explained through the groove I36 in the switch and into the groove I3! in the cam-plate I8 where the butts of the dial needles continue their travel ,in the path indicated by the arrows I during the knitting of the plain portion of the stocking. In other words, the dial-needles while following the path indicated by the arrows I30 are entirely retracted and the knitting of the plain portion of the stockings proceeds with all, of the vertical cyllnderneedles in operation and all of the horizontal needles idle as is required for plain knitting. It will be understood that the leg portion of the stocking below the ribbed top and the foot are produced by plain knitting and the heel and toe portions may be formed in the usual manner as well known to those versed in the art. Upon the completion of the stocking the control-mechanism of the machine may be reset, either automatlcally or manually, to commence the knitting of another stocking by moving the switches 30, 55 and '35 from the position shown in Fig. 17 into the position shown in Fig. 15.

While the present embodiment of the invention. has been shown and described more particularly with reference to the knitting of stockings, it is to be understood that the novel combination and arrangement of elements herein disclosed, or selected parts thereof, are capable ofmore general application in the knitting and kindred arts v vention as herein described and illustrated is by way of example only, and the parts and arrangement of its mechanisms may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine having a series of vertical needles and a series of radially movable horizontal needles adapted to cooperate to knit rib fabric, the horizontal needles being directly opposite some of the vertical needles, the combination of automatically operated means separate from the needles for transferring loops carried by the horizontal needles to certain of the vertical needles, the movements of the two series of needles each being so controlled as not to interfere with the movements of the other series of needles.

2. In a knitting machine having a series of vertical needles and a series of horizontal needles adapted to cooperate to knit rib fabric, the horizontal needles being directly opposite some of the vertical needles, the combination of automatic means separate from the needles for transferring loops carried by said horizontal needles to certain of the vertical needles, and means for retaining the horizontal needles in retracted position with respect to the vertical needles after the transfer of the loops therefrom, the movements of the two series of needles each being so controlled as not to interfere with the movements of the other being shaped to provide a space therebetweenfor the reception of a vertical needle.

4. In a knitting machine, a series of vertical needles, a series of horizontal dial needles positioned directly opposite thereto and adapted to cooperate with said vertical needles, and a series of horizontal transfer-members adapted to remove loopsfrom dial needles and to position the said loops for transfer to certain of the vertical needles each of the transfer members being located beneath a corresponding dial needle and the dial needles which dial needles are adapted to transfer their stitches to said certain of the cylinder needles by co-operative movements of the dial and cylinder needles and transfer members, all of the needles being so controlled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles.

6. In combination, a dial and cylinder, needles therein, certain of the cylinder needles being normally disposed directly opposite certain of the dial needles which dial needles are adapted to transfer their stitches to said certain of the cylinder needles by co-operative needle movements of the dial and cylinder needles, transfer members associated with the dial and cylinder needles and being adapted to remove the stitches from the dial needles and position the same for transfer to the companion cylinder needles, all of the needles being so controlled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles.

7. In combination, a dial and a cylinder each having a set of needles therein, certain of the cylinder needles being normally disposed directly opposite certain of the dial needles, means for operating the dial and cylinder needles to transfer stitches from one set of needles to the, other, and means consisting of transfer members independent of the needles adapted to assist in the said stitch transfer, all of the needles being so controlled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles.

8. In combination, a dial and a cylinder each having a set of needles therein, certain of the cylinder needles being normally disposed directly opposite certain of the dial needles, means for operating the dial and cylinder needles to transfer stitches from one set of needles to the other and means consisting of transfer members adapted to assist in the said stitch transfer, said transfer members being in alignment with the dial and cylinder needles, all of the needles being so controlled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles. A

9. In combination, two needle banks having needles therein, certain of the needles in one bank being normally disposed directly opposite certain of the needles in the other bank, said.

certain needles of the first mentioned bank adapted to transfer their stitches to the said certain needles of the other bank by cooperative movements of the said certain needles in the respective banks, means associated with the said certain needles in the respective banks adapted to assist in the stitch transfer by removing the stitches from the needles first mentioned, all of the needles being so controlled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles.

10. In combination, two needle banks having needles therein, certain of the needles in one bank being normally disposed directly opposite certain of the needles in the other bank, said certain needles of the first mentioned bank adapted to transfer their stitches to the said certain needles of the other bank by cooperative movements of the said certain needles in the respective banks, means associated with the said certain needles in the respective banks adapted to assist in the stitch transfer, said means consisting of members independent of the needles adapted to remove the stitches from the respective needles of one bank and position the said stitches for transfer to thecompanion needles of the other bank, all of the needles being so controlled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles.

11. Ina dial and cylinder knitting machine of the independent needle type, dial and cylinder needles positioned directly opposite one another, means adapted to transfer stitches from one set of needles to the other, said means consisting of movable'members adapted, by their movements, to remove stitches from one set of needles and position the said stitches for transfer to the other set of needles, means adapted to control the movements of the transfer members including an inactive cam path and an active cam path whereby the transfer members are caused to asslst in the transfer of stitches, all of the needles being so controlled as not to interfere with others of the needles. v

12. In a dial and cylinder knitting machine of the independent needle type, dial and cylinder needles positioned directly opposite one another, means adapted to transfer stitches from one set of needles to the other, the transfer of each stitch to each needle of the said other set of needles being effected while each corresponding needleof the first set is in retracted position, means adapted to control the movements of the transfer members including an inactive cam path of the [said sets adapted to knit plain fabric,

means to effect the transition from ribbed to plain fabric consisting of transfer members cooperating in timed relation with one set of needles and adapted to remove the stitches from said set of needles, whereby the said stitches may be positioned for transfer to the other set of needles, means adapted to control the movements of the transfer members including an inactive cam path 40 and an active cam path whereby the transfer members are caused to assist in the transfer of stitches, all of the needles being so controlled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles.

14. A knitting machine of the. independent needle type consisting oftwo needle beds and two sets of needles each said set being independently mounted in a said needle bed, the two needle beds being opposed and the needles there- 50 in adapted to knit ribbed fabric or plain fabric as desired, the needles all being longitudinally slidable to and from knitting position and the needles in one of the needle beds being positioned directly opposite certain of the needles in the 55 other, transfer members associated with the needles in one of the beds and adapted to move.

I cylinder, two sets of needles one set being mount-'- 5 ed for independent movements in the dial and the other set being mounted for independent movements in the cylinder and the two sets. of

needles adapted to draw stitches in opposite directions and'thereby knit ribbed fabric, the needles all being longitudinally slidable to and from knitting position, the needles in the dialbeing positioned directly opposite certain of the neodles in the cylinder, transfer members associated with the dial needles and adapted to move and transfer stitches from the dial needles to such a position as to be engaged by said certain of the cylinder needles, all of the needles being so controlled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles.

16. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having two needle beds and two sets of needles each set being independently mounted in a needle bed, the two needle beds being opposed and the needles therein adapted to knit ribbed fabric or plain fabric as desired; the needles all being longitudinally slidable to and from knitting position and the needles in one of the needle beds being positioned directly opposite certain of the needles in'the other, transfer members directly beneath the needles of one of the needle beds and adapted to move and transfer stitches from the needles'in one of the needle beds to such a position as to be engaged by needles in the other needle bed, all of the needles being so controlled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles.

17. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having a dial and a cylinder with needles independently mounted therein, needles in the dial adapted to knit rib wales while the needles in the cylinder knit plain wales, the needles all being longitudinally slidable to and from knitting position, the needles in the dial being directly opposite certain of the needles in the cylinder, transfer members positioned directly beneath the dial needles and adapted to move and transfer stitches from the dial needles to such a position as to be engaged by'said certain needles, all of the needles being so con-.- trolled in their movements as not to interfere with others of the needles.

1B. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having a dial and a cylinder, needles independently mounted in the said dial and cylinder, and adapted to knit ribbed fabric or plain fabric as desired, the needles all being longitudinally slidable to and from knitting positions, the needles in the dial having latches and being directly opposite certain of the net-:- dles in the cylinder, transfer members associated with the dial needles and adapted to movejto transfer stitches from the dial needles to such a 4 position as to be engaged by said certain of the cylinder needles, means adapted to clear the' 

